Around Town: Vanguard presents productions of Shakespeare classic

Performances of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be staged this weekend at the Lyceum Theater at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa.

“Our theater students bring a new light to this nearly 400-year-old play,” Susan Berkompas, chairwoman of the department of the arts, said in a statement.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $13 for senior citizens and children.

For tickets and more information, visit vanguardtickets.com or call (714) 668-6145.

VegFest comes to Costa Mesa this weekend

The second annual SoCal VegFest will feature plant-based food samples, music, guest speakers, cooking demonstrations, yoga classes and more Saturday and Sunday at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

Saturday will feature a vegan cupcake competition and Sunday will present Frances Greenspan, who will teach guests how to communicate with animals.

The event, run by volunteers as a project of the nonprofit Animal Protection and Rescue League, is intended to introduce visitors to the benefits of health-conscious living.

VegFest hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.

Orange Coast College is at 2701 Fairview Road.

For more information, visit socalvegfest.org.

SoCo to host Halloween party for kids

A Kids Halloween Party is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa.

The event will offer pumpkin painting, crafts, music, balloon animals, face painting, a scavenger hunt, food and more.

SoCo is at 3303 Hyland Ave.

Downtown Huntington Beach gears up for Halloween

The Huntington Beach Downtown Business Improvement District will present the Halloween festival HBOO Spookytown from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday along Fifth Street.

The event will feature pony rides, a petting zoo, costume contests, trick-or-treating and other entertainment.

For more information, visit hbdowntown.com.

Sunset Beach plans a ‘Star Wars’ Halloween

The Sunset Beach Community Assn. invites the public to its annual Halloween party from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday.

The free “Star Wars”-themed event will feature games and other activities at the Sunset Beach Community Center, 16861 12th St.

Church offers Fall Fest on Monday in H.B.

Compass Bible Church will celebrate Halloween with a Fall Fest from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday on the baseball fields at Murdy Park in Huntington Beach.

The free festival will include game booths, bounce houses, face painting, hot cocoa, cotton candy and dinner.

Murdy Park is at 7000 Norma Drive.

For more information, call (714) 895-0034.

Costa Mesa gala raises $54,000 for dental nonprofit

The ninth annual Leader in Oral Health Gala on Oct. 16 raised $54,000 for Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County, a nonprofit that works to improve the oral health of underprivileged and special-needs children.

Dental-care providers, business professionals and community leaders were among the guests at the Center Club in Costa Mesa.

Hoag Hospital of Newport Beach was honored with the Oral Health Community Champion award. The Hoag organization has contributed nearly $500,000 to Healthy Smiles programs since 2004.

Vanguard names senior director for new faculty institute

Vanguard University in Costa Mesa has named Pete Menjares as senior director of its newly established Institute for Faculty Development.

The institute is intended to support faculty members’ professional development and encourage innovation in teaching.

Menjares served as the 11th president of Fresno Pacific University and was a professor and an administrator at Biola University for 17 years.

According to a news release, he also is senior fellow for diversity with the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, an association of 182 institutions, including Vanguard.

Village View Elementary gets new principal

The Ocean View School District announced this week that Francesca Ligman has been appointed principal of Village View Elementary School in Huntington Beach.

Ligman began her career in public education 20 years ago as a teacher at the school and was its interim principal at the start of this school year.

“Mrs. Ligman has demonstrated a commitment to building consistency and growth in the Ocean View School District,” Supt. Carol Hansen said in a statement. “I have been impressed with the enthusiasm and strong leadership she has provided in just a short time.”

Art & Nature show set for Laguna museum

The Laguna Art Museum will hold its fourth annual Art & Nature event Nov. 3 through 6, which will include a large-scale installation on Main Beach titled “1/4 Mile Arc” by California artist Phillip K. Smith III, three exhibitions in the museum, a keynote lecture by British art historian Martin Kemp and a free family art festival.

“The theme of Art & Nature speaks particularly to the identity of Laguna Beach, which for over a hundred years has been a center for art, the appreciation of nature and environmental awareness,” museum Executive Director Malcolm Warner said in a statement.

For more information, visit lagunaartmuseum.org/artandnature.

Food drive continues in Fountain Valley

Coastline Orthopaedic Associates in Fountain Valley, in partnership with national nonprofit Move for Hunger, is holding a Thanksgiving food drive until Nov. 21 at 11160 Warner Ave., Suite 311, Fountain Valley.

Donors can contribute non-perishable foods such as stuffing mix, cranberry sauce and canned vegetables.

Thurston Middle School sport swap coming Nov. 5

The Thurston Middle School PTA will hold its eighth annual sports swap from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Laguna Beach campus.

A variety of sports equipment offered by residents and retailers will be available for purchase. Thurston will receive 100% of the proceeds from donated items and 50% of the proceeds from items on consignment.

Residents can drop off items from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Nov. 3 and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at the school, 2100 Park Ave.

For more information, visit thurstonpta.org and click on “Sports swap.”

Reid Day School to host medical officer

Reid Day School in Costa Mesa will host a presentation and Q&A from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 10 with Marc Lerner, a medical officer with the Orange County Department of Education.

Reid is for students who are considered twice-exceptional, meaning they are gifted and have a learning, emotional or behavioral issue.

Lerner will talk about the social and emotional needs of such students.

Reid is at 151 Kalmus Drive. For more information, call (949) 680-9592.